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Several hundred companies, governments, and civil society and non-governmental organizations have committed to zero deforestation initiatives. However, all may not have fully realized the enormousness and complexity of the challenge in committing to zero deforestation, and it appears that some did not know exactly what they stepped into. What is clear though, is that this endeavour is very much at the initial stage of development, and early work and experimentation is showing the way to putting in place what is needed.

Putting livelihoods on the map: use of spatial planning in West Kalimantan

Putting livelihoods on the map: use of spatial planning in West Kalimantan

Issue number: 59

Editor: Rosalien Jezeer and Nick Pasiecznik

Year: 2019

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Abstract:

In West Kalimantan, land acquisition for large-scale oil palm expansion has led to conflict with local communities, because in the planning of such plantations there is often little consideration for pre-existing land use and livelihoods. In such cases, participatory village-level spatial planning and mapping is a way to strengthen the ability of rural communities to decide whether or not to engage in oil palm, and if so, on which land, and under what terms. This paper highlights two examples from Sambas District where two villages have been in conflict with an oil palm company and are now in the process of conducting participatory mapping and spatial planning.

This paper was submitted for inclusion in the forthcoming edition of ETFRN News 59 – Exploring inclusive oil palm production, due for release in early 2019. This will contain 20 papers plus interviews, presenting examples of innovative and inclusive palm oil production systems. It will assess what has not worked, but importantly, it will analyse what positive practices and policies have worked for more inclusive palm oil production and why, as we strive towards more collective and sustainable solutions to this apparently intractable problem.

This paper will undergo final editing prior to publication publication of the complete edition, and as such, could differ from the version presented here.

About us

Established in 1991, the European Tropical Forest Research Network (ETFRN) aims to ensure that European research contributes to conservation and sustainable use of forest and tree resources in tropical and subtropical countries. ETFRN promotes a dialogue between researchers, policy-makers and forest users, the increased coherence of European tropical forest research, and increased collaboration with researchers in developing countries.